Valve



Nov. 16 1948- N. s. McEwEN VALVE Filed May 2, 1945 Patented Nov. 16, 194g VALVE Norman S. McEwen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as-

signor to Helpy Selfy Service System, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application May 2, 1945, Serial No. 591,477

This invention relates generally to valves, and more particularly to flap valves, having for its object to provide a construction which is simple in parts and operation, and more positive in actuation than those heretofore proposed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be disclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly covered by the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the valve as applied to a container;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the valve;

Fig, 3 is a bottom plan view of the valve;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View illustrating in full lines the valve in closed position, and illustrating in dotted lines the valve in opened position; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views illustrating modifications of the construction shown in Fig. 4.

The valve of this invention obviously is capable of application to many structures but, for the purpose of exemplication only, it is here illustrated and described in connection with the outlet or drain of the Atub of a washing machine.

The valve generically comprises two members, a conduit through which a fluid may pass, and a closure for one end of the conduit, the closure having hinged, rocking, and/or pivotal relation with the conduit and under spring tension with respect thereto, the tension being such that said closure Will be maintained either in tight closed or in full opened position upon proper manipulation of said closure. More specifically, and with reference to the drawings, the conduit is identied generally by the numeral 2, and the closure by the numeral 3, while 4 denotes a spring for creating tension therebetween.

The conduit preferably comprises a cylindrical member which is threaded or otherwise secured to the end of the drain 5 of the tub of a washing machine. The free end of the conduit is suitably nished to form the seat for the customary disc Washer 6 carried by the closure 3 by virtue of a central perforation in the washer receiving therethrough the screw I as illustrated in Fig. 4, or the headed post or button 8 formed integrally with the closure as shown in Fig. 5. The screw I is recommended when relatively rigid washers are used, whereas the button" construction is preferred for quick attachment and detachment of yieldable and relatively soft washers 2 Claims. (Cl. IS7- 34) 2 such as those made of rubber or other material capable of stretching over the button The conduit carries a tongue i0 externally thereof, disposed in a central longitudinal plane of the conduit, which tongue is relatively closely straddled by a pair of parallel fingers II and i2, constituting a fork, carried by and extending rearwardly of the closure 3. This interitting relationship of tongue and fingers is maintained in each of the modications illustrated, Fig. 5 showing a pivot pin I3 passing through the overlapping portions and providing the hinged relation referred to hereinbefore.

The coil spring 4 is looped upwardly and over an upper portion of the tongue, the ends of the spring passing beneath the closure and secured thereto in any convenient manner as by engagement with a hook I4 as illustrated for quick attachment and detachment. A concave seat I5 or other suitable formation is provided on the tongue and/or on the conduit for reception and retainment of the looped portion of said spring.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. l to 4 the under surface of the tongue is provided with a notch or socket I6 or equivalent construction.

adapted to receive a relatively thin edge II constituting a fulcrum, said edge formed substantially at the juncture of the parallel ngers EI and I2 with the closure 3, said fulcrum being disposed substantially midway between the ends (such as I8) of the fingers and the forward extremity of the closure. A hole I9 or equivalent construction is provided at the end I8 of one or both of the fingers, for receiving one end of an operating rod 2B or other device by which the closure is rocked about its fulcrum I'I to open and close the valve.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6 the same general principles are present, the chief difference in construction being the omission of the positive, relatively closely confining or restricted socket or notch I6, the tongue IIl at this point having a broader under surface upon which the fulcrum edge II is free to ride. The upward extensions of the fingers II and I2, constituting the ears indicated by the numeral 30, have their forward edge surfaces 3l rounded, or so formed arcuately that they will abut and roll upon the rear external cylindrical surface of the conduit 2 as the valve closure member 3 is actuated. If desired a wire, bolt, pin or rivet 32 may be disposed in the lower extremity of the tongue I0 as a safeguard against its displacement with reference to the fork comprising the fingers II and 3 I2, in a manner similar to the formation of the T head 33 shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

The positions of the hook I4, the seat I5, and the fulcrum-socket, as Well as the throw or movement of the operating rod 20, are made such that when said rod is moved to its limit in one direction the spring 4 will be disposed to one side of the fulcrum, with the closure 3 in tight egagement with the conduit to maintain the valve closed, whereas when said rod is moved in the opposite direction the spring will be moved to a position on the other side of the fulcrum to keep the valve open, all as will be readily understood.

The metal at the juncture of the fin-gers withy the closure 3 is ground or otherwise formed to produce the surface 25 terminating in the aforementioned Afulcrum edge l1, and the tongue I is provided With an under surface 26, the planes of these two surfaces being such that, when the operating rod is moved to open the valve and' the spring 4 has moved past thefulcrum I1', the surface 25 of the closure will abut the surface 26 of the tongue and prevent further opening movement of th'e Valve. According to the modica tion shown in Fig. 5 the equivalent surfaces` 2-1 and 28 are provided for the same result.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangements of parts constituting this invention Without departing from the spirit thereof, wherefore it is desiredV not to be limited to the exact foregoing disclosure except as may be required bythey claims.

What is claimed'is: l

1. A valve comprising a conduit and4 a closure for one end thereof, said conduit provided: with' a tongue extending laterally therefrom; the-uppermost surface of saidl tongue having a spring receiving groove formedl therein, the lowerportion of said tongue having an inwardly directedf surface constituting a seat arid upon which the'- closure has contacting oscillatable movement, said closure provided on its under portionl with a, hook and on its upper portion with a Washerl for engaging the end of said conduit, said closure further provided with a pair of substantially' parallel iingers closely straddling said tongue, the inner ends of said fingers terminating in a Walli having a thin upper edge constitutingl a fulcrum' contactingly engaging the seat of said tongue and about which fulcrum the closure is oscillated by a force applied through said fingers, and a coil spring for maintaining said fulcrum in coengagement with said seat, said spring having its mid-portion bodily seated in said groove and having its opposite end portions extending downwardly on opposite sides of said tongue with the extremities of said spring removably engaging said hook.

2. A valve comprising a conduit and a closure for one end. thereof, said conduit provided with a tongue extending laterally therefrom, the uppermostfportionl of said tongue formed as a spring receiving pocket, the lower portion of said tongue having an under surface constituting a seat and upon which the closure has contacting oscillatable movement, said closure provided on its underV portion with a projection and on its upper said seat, said spring having its mid-portion bodily seated in said'pocket andA having its opposite endf portions extending 'downwardly on opposite` sides of saidv tongue with the extremities of said spring removably engaging said` projection.

NORMAN Si MCEWEN'.

REFERENCES' CITED- The following references are ofV record in. the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number, Name Datel 903,606 Pollock NOV. 10; 1908 1,392,294 Borden-Smith Oct; 4,r 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date '164,673V France Mar. l2, 1934 

